The bill amends section 381.915 of the Florida Statutes to enhance the Cancer Connect Collaborative's role in advising on cancer research funding and treatment initiatives. Key amendments include revised definitions for "cancer center" and "Florida-based," the establishment of the Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator, and a requirement for the collaborative to review grant applications based on specific parameters. The collaborative will prioritize applications that expand cancer screening and treatment in underserved areas and will submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing the performance and impact of grants from the Cancer Innovation Fund.

Additionally, the bill sets eligibility criteria for health care providers and facilities seeking grant funding, mandates peer review panels for grant assessments, and outlines guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest among collaborative members. It introduces the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative, focusing on eye-related cancer research, and establishes the Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator to enhance pediatric cancer research over a five-year period starting July 1, 2025. The incubator will award grants through a peer-reviewed process, with recipients required to submit quarterly expenditure reports and allow state audits. The collaborative must also submit annual reports on research outcomes, with the first report due by December 1, 2026, and recommendations for future research areas by December 1, 2029, if an extension is proposed.